Girts are structural components that provide lateral support to building walls. They can be made from various materials and are installed early in the framing process. Rebar is attached to vertical supports and building codes specify their size and hardware. Belts should not be visible in the finished design and cannot be removed without a structural engineer’s oversight. Redundant bracing is installed before replacing or moving structural members.
A girt is a structural component that provides lateral support to the walls of a building. Girts can be found in structures of all sizes and can be made from wood, steel, concrete, and other materials depending on the nature and specifics of the project. These structural braces are installed early in the framing process to absorb lateral loads and distribute them safely. As the building ascends, these and other supports support the structure and provide a framework for the cladding and other components.
Also known as a sheet rail, the underlay runs horizontally across the wall cladding. The size and shape of the girt can vary and these structural members may need to be adjusted to fit your doors and windows. Around building openings, care should be taken with structural supports to avoid creating a weak point that could make the building vulnerable to damage.
Construction crews attach rebar to critical vertical structural supports, using appropriate hardware and bracing for the application. Building codes may specify the size of structural supports and the type of hardware to use based on the size and purpose of the building. An engineer or architect may have additional input in this part of the construction process, as can an experienced contractor familiar with the distribution of loads in finished structures.
Bolting rebar into place can stabilize a structure and allow for later stages of construction, such as installing curtain walls, installing plumbing, electrical, and other plumbing, and cladding the building to protect it from the elements . A belt should not be visible in the finished design, although it can be located with the use of devices such as stud finders or by looking at structural walls and estimating the approximate location based on building codes and building history.
Like other structural supports, a belt cannot be removed without potentially serious consequences. In the event that structural members need to be replaced or moved because the walls of the building have to shift to accommodate a new use, a structural engineer must oversee the process. Workers typically start by installing redundant bracing to take on the load. Next, they open up the structural wall and carefully remove the components, making note of any unusual occurrences in case they need to stop and reevaluate. Once finished, they can replace damaged components or move the wall to a new location, as long as it has been approved by an architect.
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